Attack on Titan: Kuklo Unbound, Volume 1

September 1, 2015

Gr 10 Up-The survivor of the attack that killed his mother, Kuklo is believed to be the child of a Titan (born from the vomit of the Titan that consumed her). His is a life relegated to that of a sideshow freak, marred by neglect, abuse, and the ever-looming possibility of sudden death. Kuklo's bleak existence is exacerbated when he is purchased by the Inocencios, a family of aristocrats who plan to use Kuklo for political gain. A series of events lead to the teen's escape and quest to find out if he truly is the child of a Titan-with unlikely alliances along the way. This stand-alone prequel to the popular manga series "Attack of the Titan" (Kodansha) is a combination of suspense, action, and mystery and features short chapters interspersed with manga-style illustrations. However, the occasional action illustrations lead to uneven pacing and are likely to frustrate committed readers of the manga. VERDICT A slow prequel meant to explain previously unexplored elements of the manga series that may only work as an entry point to new readers.-Tamela Chambers, Chicago Pub. Schs.

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